Red Cross puts out blood SOS

Andrew Korner
Journalist
Andrew was born and bred in Ipswich and has been at the QT since 2007. After starting out on the country rounds, he moved onto court reporting and then police and emergency services, which he has now been covering for the last three years. When he is not working on police rounds Andrew is busy sifting through the garbage of famous people, in search of ideas for his weekly column, the Naughty Korner. As there are very few famous people in Ipswich, Andrew is often forced to write his column about...

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IPSWICH people have been called on to their bit to boost blood donations, following a sudden spike in demand.

The Red Cross has activated what it calls its "Blood Signal" - a digital appeal for donations - for the first time in two years.

Blood donations are running low across all major blood groups, particularly O Negative and O Positive, which only have a few days' supply left each.

Red Cross Blood Service spokeswoman Amy McDowell said the two blood types that were most needed were also the most common.

"The problem is that up to 1000 donors a week are cancelling their donations due to cold and flu symptoms and, to make matters worse, we've had a recent spike in demand for blood," Ms McDowell said.

She said the organisation would activate its Blood Signal on social media.

"The Ipswich Blood Donor Centre requires an additional 641 blood donations over the next six weeks to meet current patient needs," she said.

"Every donation you make or help encourage can help save three lives, including those of cancer patients, unborn babies, mothers giving birth, road trauma victims, burns victims, and people who need kidney dialysis."

To make an appointment to give blood, phone 13 14 95 or visit www. donateblood.com.au.